WINTER STORM WARNING
Warning Issue Date: 430 AM CST THU DEC 24 2009
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY...
* SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS...GRAND RAPIDS...
HIBBING...ISABELLA...ELY AND GRAND MARAIS AREAS FOR MUCH OF THE
MORNING...BEFORE POSSIBLY LETTING UP SOMEWHAT BY MIDDAY. THE
NEXT ROUND OF HEAVIER SNOW WILL ARRIVE TONIGHT...ALONG WITH
INCREASING EAST WINDS. THIS HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO
CHRISTMAS DAY.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 15 INCHES APPEAR
LIKELY...WITH SOME AMOUNTS UP TO 20 INCHES POSSIBLE.
* EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT DURING THE
DAY...BUT WILL ONCE AGAIN INCREASE TONIGHT AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
WINDS OF UP TO 25 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...RESULTING IN
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND LIMITED VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN A
QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
* ROAD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE DURING THE DAY.
THERE MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF A LET UP IN THE SNOW FROM MIDDAY INTO
EARLY EVENING...BUT THE NEXT ROUND OF HEAVY SNOW WILL MOVE BACK
IN TONIGHT...AND CONTINUE INTO CHRISTMAS DAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THE
COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WILL
CAUSE DANGEROUSLY LOW VISIBILITY AND DRIFTING SNOW. SNOW COVERED
ROADS...AND DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED. IF YOU
MUST TRAVEL...USE EXTREME CAUTION AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH
YOUR DESTINATION. BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BECOME STRANDED AND THAT
IT COULD TAKE MANY HOURS FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. KEEP A WINTER
SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR VEHICLE... INCLUDING A FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...
AND WATER. LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE AND EXPECTED
ARRIVAL TIME AND HAVE A WORKING CELL PHONE IN CASE YOU BECOME
STRANDED.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE EMPHASIZED THIS STORM WILL AFFECT A VERY LARGE
PART OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES...INCLUDING MINNESOTA...MUCH OF
THE DAKOTAS...IOWA AND WISCONSIN. ANYONE WITH HOLIDAY TRAVEL
PLANS ACROSS THE REGION IS URGED TO STAY CURRENT WITH THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING STORM.
$$
|
|
|
